Amy at Texas Faith: What would Jesus tweet?
TEXAS FAITH: What would Jesus tweet?
What would Jesus tweet? If Jesus were here today – or if Twitter had been an available app 2,000 years ago – would Jesus have used it as a communication tool to reach larger audiences? More broadly, would Jesus have used social media to spread his message? Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, the Vatican’s media-savvy minister of culture, has suggested that Jesus “used tweets before anyone else.” What he meant was that Jesus made statements that were brief, punchy and full of meaning as a way of spreading his particular message of faith.
Elementary phrases like ‘Love one another’ would have fit within Twitter’s 140-character convention with room to spare for a hashtag. After all, Pope Francis has more than 3 million followers on Twitter. And presumably only the most steadfast Luddite would say that people of faith shouldn’t use every tool necessary to advance the faith. And this is likely true regardless of faith tradition – Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, whatever the spiritual expression of our lives.
But back to the original idea. How would Jesus have used Twitter? What would he have said in 140 characters? The Texas Faith panel considers the question offers some provocative ideas (What if the Sermon on the Mount had been live-streamed? The clearing of the temple posted on YouTube?) about technology, faith and the modern world. What would Jesus tweet?
AMY MARTIN, Director Emeritus of Earth Rhythms and Writer/editor Moonlady News Newsletter
With Taoism’s short pithy aphorisms — the source of many a fortune cookie sentiment — Lao Tzu was the original religious tweeter. Legend had it that Lao Tzu would share snippets of his wisdom with whoever asked and those would pass the phrases along to others — old-school Twitter.
from the airport: A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent upon arriving. #flightdelays
on a dark night: Tao is an endless circle, ever returning. Serenity is its ultimate function. Everything arises from existence. Existence rises from non-existence. #infinitenightsky
at the gym: Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power. #benchpresscrush
from Washington D.C.: Learn to lead in a nourishing manner. Learn to lead without being possessive. Learn to be helpful without taking credit. Learn to lead without coercion. #foolsinpower
in meditation: There is something mysterious, without beginning, without end. Unmoving, infinite; standing alone, never changing. It is everywhere and it is inexhaustible. It is the mother of all. I do not know its name. If I must name it I call it Tao and hail it as supreme. #whatmatters
